Celebrities with endometriosis

Anna Friel is a British actress. She was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 28, after being rushed to hospital with a ruptured ovarian cyst. She says "one doctor told me it would be very hard if I left trying for a baby beyond the age of 30, which at the time was far from an ideal situation". She gave birth to daughter, Gracie, in 2005.

Annabel Croft is a British former professional tennis player and current radio and television presenter. She had surgery for endometriosis in 1992 and went on to have 3 children. After her doctor found a cyst on her ovary in 2003, she has visited a homeopath and found her cyst reduced in size after taking the prescribed remedies. She now visits her homeopath every 6 weeks for a full 'MOT'. Annabel has formed Diary Doll with friend and fellow television presenter Carol Smillie, a company specialising in 'period pants'.

Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host. She found out she had endometriosis in the 70's and was given medication for the disease which worked. She has one daughter, Alexandria, born in 1973.

Anthea Turner is a British television presenter and media personality. She has said the pain of endometriosis had been unbearable at times. "If someone was to give me a gun I would shoot myself, it really can get that bad". She has tried acupuncture in the past but was eventually told her endometriosis had cleared up spontaneously. To date, Anthea has undergone five unsuccessful IVF treatments.

Karen Duffy is an American model, television personality and actress. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 1998. Karen says the cramps ''felt like a boa constrictor wrapped around my abdomen". She now controls her endometriosis with Lupron and reports no side effects from the drug.''I have more energy now, and maybeit's because I have less pain'' she says. She has one son, Jack.

Padma Lakshmi is an Indian American author, actress, model and television presenter. She also co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America. Padma suffered with pain for more than 20 years and was told it was 'all in her head' before she was diagnosed with endometriosis. She had surgery when it was revealed she had 2 cysts on each of her ovaries and was also put on to birth control. She gave birth to her daughter, Krishna, in 2010.

Nike Oshinowo-Soleye is a Nigerian business woman, socialite, entrepreneur and former pageant director. She has battled with endometriosis since 13 years old and has lost count of how many surgeries she has had for the disease. She says she is now looking forward to the menopause. At the age of 47 she became a mother to twins via an American surrogate.

Dolly Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress and author. It was during a 35 date tour of the US and Canada in 1982 that she was taken in to hospital (aged 36) to have a partial hysterectomy due to endometriosis. She later faced a period of depression and suicidal thoughts from not being able to have children.

Tracey Emin is a British artist. Tracey developed severe stomach pains and when she collapsed the next day, was rushed to hospital where it was discovered she had endometriosis. She says "I couldn't walk because of the terrible pain in my hip from all the swelling". Tracey revealed in 2012 that she had now lost her libido after an operation for severe endometriosis brought on by the menopause. She said she does not have a sexual relationship with her new boyfriend and has never wished to have children.

Hillary Clinton is an American politician and served as the 67th Secretary of State, Senator for New York, First Lady of the United States and First Lady of Arkansas. She had trouble conceiving her only child, Chelsea, born in 1980, due to endometriosis.

Emma Bunton is a British pop singer-songwriter from the Spice Girls, actress, model, television and radio presenter. She was diagnosed with endometriosis at 25. "I remember the doctor saying at the time: 'Fifty per cent of women with endometriosis go on to have children'. I thought, only 50 per cent!? It scared the life out of me". She has two sons, Beau, born in 2007 and Tate, born in 2011.

Aya Matsuura is a Japanese pop singer. In a bid to raise awareness, Aya announced to her fans that she had the disease in 2011 and had been suffering with pain for the last 4 years. In 2009 she took a 3 year career break and now performs on a level suitable to her needs. Aya has one daughter, born in 2014.

Anna McPartlin is an Irish author. She first suffered problems with her endometriosis in her early 20's. "I began to suffer with kidney and bladder problems and spent a lot of time in and out of hospital undergoing treatment and investigations. From the initial symptoms, it took at least eight years for me to be diagnosed with endometriosis and this only happened due to the influence of my aunt who was a gynaecological nurse and believed my problems sounded like endometriosis. She pushed me to move from a kidney specialist to a gynaecologist". A diagnostic laparoscopy revealed she had endometriosis on her bladder, uterus, abdominal wall and fallopian tubes. The surgeon removed the scar tissue and she experienced a year of no pain or bladder issues. Unfortunately, when Anna and her husband started trying for children, they found they were unable to conceive and since then, they have tried one course of IVF and countless other treatments including aromatherapy, acupuncture and dietary changes and are now trying to conceive naturally again. "I had a second operative laparoscopy a number of years ago and although my symptoms are ongoing, I am so much better than I was before diagnosis" she says.

Jillian Michaels is an American personal trainer and media personality. Jillian struggles with infertility due to endometriosis having blocked her fallopian tubes, but she has two children, Lukensia and Pheonix, one of whom she has adopted and another that her partner gave birth to. She says she learned very early on that she had endometriosis and polycystic ovaries.

Kirsten Storms is an American actress. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2011 while playing the role of Maxie in the TV series General Hospital. She had to take a year off from the show and returned in 2012. She has one daughter, Harper Rose, born in 2014.

Emma Forbes is a British radio and television presenter. She was diagnosed with endometriosis when her and her husband started trying for children. After having scans and laparoscopic surgery, her gynaecologist told her something she says she will never forgive him for - that she could never have children. She was put on to Clomid and within a year fell pregnant. Since the birth of her daughter, Lily, Emma has had 7 more laparoscopic surgeries. After her son, Sam, was born, her endometriosis got even worse and she later had her ovary and fallopian tube removed. She now controls her endometriosis with a mixture of acupuncture and a healthy diet.

Julianne Hough is an American professional ballroom dancer, singer and actress. She suffered with symptoms of endometriosis from the age of 15 but was told it was normal. It wasn't until she was starring in Dancing with the Stars in 2008 that she knew her body had taken all it could. She was in agony but ignored producers pleas to go to the hospital. The next morning Julianne had an ultrasound which revealed she had a cyst on her left ovary and a lot of scar tissue outside of her uterus which had spread to her appendix and right hip. She had laparoscopic surgery a week later, leaving the show mid season. It was found the endometriosis had also spread to her fallopian tubes and bladder. Julianne believes she started suffering with pain from the disease around 2003. Her mother and sister also have endometriosis.

Susan Sarandon is an American actress. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 1983 after suffering from pain, irregular bleeding and fainting. She was told that if she ever wanted children she would have to have surgery and was put on to birth control pills and painkillers. She has three children; a daughter, Eva, born in 1985 and two sons, Jack, born in 1989, and Miles, born in 1992.

Louise Redknapp is a British singer, television presenter and media personality. After trying for more than two years for a baby, Louise was told by her doctor that she would have to go through a lot to have children, and still might not be successful. She says, "Finding out you can't have children takes a bit of your femininity away. It's an odd feeling, like you've completely under-achieved, which is not what I'm good at dealing with". Louise had laser surgery for the endometriosis and was about to embark on IVF treatment when she discovered she was pregnant with her first son, Charley, born in 2004. She gave birth to her second son, Beau, in 2008.

Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, model and singer who was 36 when she died. She never had children though fell pregnant numerous times. All of her pregnancies ended in miscarriage and, reportedly, at least one ectopic pregnancy due to her severe endometriosis. There is a rumour that she went in to one surgery with a note taped to her stomach, pleading with the doctors to not remove her reproductive organs. Although there is much mystery surrounding her death, many think it is indirectly linked to her endometriosis. The disease caused her to become addicted to painkillers which in turn aggravated her psychological problems. Her x-rays from one of her surgeries for the disease fetched $54,000 at auction in 1954.

Tia Mowry is an American actress, singer and author. She was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 27 after suffering from severe cramps since she was 21. She had surgery but unfortunately, 2 years later, the pain returned. She had a second surgery and then started The Body Ecology Diet. After one year of being on the diet, she was pregnant and her son, Cree, was born in 2011.

Ada Nicodemou is a Greek Cypriot born Australian actress. She and her husband tried to conceive naturally for a year and when that didn't work they completed a single course of IVF treatment which was successful. Her son, Johnas, was born in 2012. Ada has been open from the start of her journey and hoped that her story would help other couples struggling with fertility issues.

Stephanie St. James is an American actress and singer. Diagnosed with endometriosis in 2003, after suffering for over a decade with painful symptoms, Stephanie is an advocate for the disease after undergoing 6 surgeries.

Cynthia Koh is a Singaporean actress. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2012, after having unusually long periods. A check by her gynaecologist revealed she had two 2cm blood cysts on her ovaries and underwent keyhole surgery to remove these.

Andrea McLean is a Scottish television presenter. She was diagnosed with endometriosis at 28 and underwent fertility treatment to have her son, Finlay, who was born in 2001. She had a blocked fallopian tube and cysts on her ovaries and was put on Clomid before starting IVF but fell pregnant (after two years of trying to conceive) before starting the main IVF treatment. She gave birth to her daughter Amy in 2006 after conceiving naturally.

Lorne Spicer is a British television presenter. She was diagnosed with endometriosis when she had problems trying to conceive but after a series of operations and treatments, was told she was clear of the disease by doctors. She has one son.

Julia Bradbury is a British television presenter. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2006 during a routine check up and following on from this had laparoscopic surgery for the disease. Her son, Zephyr, was born in 2011 and in 2015 she gave birth to twin girls, Xanthe and Zena, who were conceived via IVF treatment.

Elisabeth Oas is an American actress. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2009 after encountering pain during her second pregnancy. She also suffers with interstitial cystitis and pelvic floor dysfunction. Elizabeth founded and co-hosts a radio show/podcast called 'The Pelvic Messenger' which discusses issues surrounding chronic pelvic pain, diseases, syndromes and treatments.

Nikki Cascone is an American chef, restaurateur and former contestant of Top Chef. She suffered for two years before she was diagnosed with endometriosis. She has laser surgery and fell pregnant soon afterwards. Her son, Jackson, was born in 2011.

Mary Joe Fernandezis an American former professional tennis player. She had suffered with painful cramps in her pelvic area since around the age of 14 but, although they were a nuisance, they hadn't gotten in the way of her career. In 1993, the pains worsened and surgery confirmed she had endometriosis. The surgery was successful and Mary Joe was put on to medication for the disease. She was able to return to tennis within a few months but the medication made her susceptible to illness and she struggled to keep up. "I had been playing really well", Mary Joe says. "I was about to make a big breakthrough. I was ready to challenge for No. 1 in the world. And then, boom, the endometriosis. I didn't know if I'd ever be able to play again. I thought I was going to lose everything I'd worked for". While out with injuries, Mary Joe has used her time to create awareness of the disease. She has two children, Isabella, born in 2001 and Nicholas, born in 2004.

Queen Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 1837 until her death in January 1901. It is rumoured that she suffered form endometriosis and was heard to have said that the only time she felt good was while she was pregnant. Some say this explains why she had so many children - 9 in total, though it has been revealed that she also suffered from both prenatal and postnatal depression, hated her children and was not in the least bit maternal. "Queen Victoria liked sex, but she didn't like the result".

Deidre Hall is an American actress. Originally thinking she would easily conceive, Deidre underwent six rounds of artificial insemination before being diagnosed with endometriosis. When this tissue was removed surgically, she though she had found a cure for her inability to conceive. She had six courses of IVF over a nine month period, but, unfortunately, none of them took and one even put her into a brief coma. In 1989, Deidre tried IVF-gestational, a procedure where a woman's egg and her spouse's sperm are united in the lab and the embryo is then injected in to the uterus of a surrogate. The result, again, was failure. She was unable to try IVF again as her body couldn't take it. In 1991, Deidre found a surrogate and after two attempts at artificial insemination, the surrogate announced she was pregnant. Robin, the surrogate mother, gave birth to Deidre's son, David, in 1992. Robin later went on to give birth to Deidre's second son, Tully, in 1995.

Jayne Kennedy Overton is an American actress and former sports television presenter. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in the early 80's. She was filming an exercise video when her pain became so debilitating she wasn't able to do any sit ups and later collapsed. "I was in pain all the time. Sometimes I would be standing in the kitchen, lift the top off a pot and pains came in my stomach", she says. "They were not dull aches, they were all sharp pains. It was difficult to walk and certainly almost impossible to exercise". She tried the birth control pill and when it didn't work, her doctor advised her to get pregnant. "I was really lucky. Within two months I was pregnant. The pains stopped, and it went away. I was pain free during the entire pregnancy and while I breast fed. Two months after I stopped breastfeeding, the pain came back". Jayne had three laparoscopic surgeries then tried Lupron as well as other test drugs and treatments. Inevitably, the disease returned and the only time she experienced any extended remission was during a second pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding. When she got pregnant for the third time, she decided to have a cesarean section and total hysterectomy after the birth. She hasn't suffered with the disease since.

Bethenny Frankel is an American television personality, entrepreneur and author. Bethenny revealed this year that she suffers from endometriosis. She has one daughter, Bryn, who was born in 2010, but suffered a miscarriage at 8 weeks during her second pregnancy - though she blamed it on herself and her age rather than her endometriosis.

Chaz Bono is an American transgender advocate, writer and musician. He is the only child of Cher and Sonny Bono. For years, Chaz battled a substance abuse problem when he became dependent on painkillers while suffering from endometriosis. He reached sobriety in 2004 and later in 2005, had a hysterectomy for the disease. Chaz (born Chastity) underwent female to male gender transition between 2008 and 2010 and in 2010 legally changed his name and gender.

Myleene Klassis an British singer, pianist, media personality and model. Her first child, daughter Ava, was born in 2007. During a three year struggle to conceive her second daughter, Hero, Myleene was told she had endometriosis. Ironically, it was probably caused by her previous pregnancy. Myleene started investigating IVF. "I can see how things like that can bring a couple to the brink", says Myleene. "Everything becomes so mechanical". Myleene was about to start treatment when her doctor advised her to give it three more months. "I broke down in tears when he told me that", she says. "It had been years already". But amazingly, within a few weeks she was pregnant. Hero was born in 2012.

Michelle Ang is a New Zealand film and television actress. She had begun to notice changes in herself when she became extremely lethargic, depressed, had back ache and bloating, along with a urinary tract infection. Michelle thought it was initially a kidney infection and after a late night trip to A&E in New York, America, and three courses of antibiotics left her feeling no better, she agreed to visit her family doctor back home in Wellington, New Zealand. She was told these were the effects of her getting older and, feeling demoralised, visited a urologist and a kidney specialist where all her tests came back clear. Michelle bumped in to an old school friend by chance a few weeks later, and it was suggested she visit a gynaecologist. The gynaecologist identified that she was likely to be suffering from endometriosis and, after surgery, Michelle was finally diagnosed with the disease.

Emily Robisonis an American singer, songwriter and a founding member of the female country band the Dixie Chicks. After six months of trying to conceive, Emily went through various tests. Another year passed without success and Emily underwent a laparoscopy which is when she was diagnosed with mild endometriosis. After two years and four rounds of IVF, her son, Augustus Charles, was born in 2002. After another 2 rounds of IVF, Emily fell pregnant with twins, Julianna Tex and Henry Benjamin, who were born in 2005. Her fourth child, Violet Isabel, was born in 2012.

Frieda Hughes is a British poet and painter. She is the daughter of poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. In the late 90's, Frieda underwent a series of operations for the treatment of endometriosis. "It crawls up through the groin", she write in one of her latest poems. "Nail hooks pick out steps in soft red, seeking places to implant...". She has described the disease as having caused "unmitigated agony".

Melissa Holliday is an American actress, singer and model. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 1995 and was put on to a course of Zolodex. The drug did not relieve any pain for her and although she asked numerous times, the doctors maintained the treatment while she felt her condition was worsening. After being referred on to another hospital she says, "they’d given me so many drugs, I didn’t know if I was coming or going". She was effectively driven out of her mind through chemical bombardment, and was told she would need electric shock therapy - she was told that if she didn’t consent, she would simply be locked up and not permitted to leave. Finally, at the end of 44 days, 9 shock treatments later, Melissa ran out of cover on her medical insurance and was released from hospital. She was unable to leave her house for 6 months, was unable to drive and effectively lost her career. She went back home to live with relatives and started claiming disability payments. In October 1996, Melissa filed a much-publicised lawsuit against the hospital and doctors whom she feels ended her career through their gross negligence and total mistreatment of endometriosis. Eventually, she received the medical care she needed and obtained some relief from the disease - which should have come much sooner.

Gloria LaMorte is a film writer and director. She wrote and produced the award winning short film, "Details", which was based on real life events. Gloria played the lead role, a woman burdened for years by endometriosis who is driven to near suicide from the pain.

Tori Amosis an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She has suffered with endometriosis for half of her career. Tori has had repeated surgeries for the disease and had her fallopian tubes removed after a cyst was discovered. After suffering three miscarriages, her daughter, Natashya, was born in 2000.

Yuka Murofushi is a Japanese discus and hammer thrower. She had an endometrial polyp removed in March 2004 and further surgery for endometriosis in November 2009. Yuka still suffers from the endometriosis and the side effects of her medication. She has been unable to regain her pre-surgery performance levels.

Lizzie O'Leary is an American journalist. She first suffered with abdominal pains at the age of 14, but it was only after surgery at 35 that she was diagnosed with endometriosis. Although she questioned her gynaecologist for years about having the disease she was always told that she was fine. She was misdiagnosed with a hernia and ovarian cysts before her official diagnosis in 2011. Concerned with fertility issues, she froze her eggs. After a course of hormone therapy she thought she was clear of the disease and took a prestigious role as a CNN correspondent, but soon was struggling with the effects of the endometriosis. She stepped down in 2012 after a leave of absence. "I got the amazing chance to be a CNN correspondent, but my body just wasn't capable of doing that. But it’s also been this very strange gift. For so long, I defined myself as a journalist, and in the time when I've been sick, I've learned to define myself as a daughter and a sister and a girlfriend and an intellectual".After further surgery, Lizzie now treats her endometriosis with a combination of physical therapy, acupunture and an IUD.

Alexandra Wentworth is an American comedienne, actress and author. She has two daughters, Elliott and Harper. There is little online regarding her struggles with the disease though she did proclaim the fact she has endometriosis to the world on her Twitter in 2012.

Hilary Mantel is a British author. She was diagnosed with endometriosis at 27 after suffering with bad periods from the age of 11. Doctors were convinced that it was all in her mind and had duly treated her as a psychiatric case.Hilary was convinced it was endometriosis and after surgery, her doctors confirmed it was endometriosis - and they had had to remove her womb, ovaries and even part of her bowel. "When women apes have their wombs removed", she wrote in her memoir, "and are returned by keepers to the community, their mates sense it and desert them. It is a fact of base biology; there is little kindness in the animal kingdom, and I have been down there with the animals, grunting and bleeding on the porter's trolley. I was 27 and I thought I could have a baby. I was free in the matter, there were possibilities. Now I was not free and the possibilities were closed off. Biology was destiny. Neglect - my own, and that of the medical profession - had taken away my choices. I was 27 and an old woman, all at once". When the hysterectomy failed to solve the physical problems, subsequent drug treatments left her with the side-effects of exhaustion and ballooning weight.

Carole Landis was an American actress who died in 1948 at the age of 29. She wanted to have children but was unable to conceive due to endometriosis. Her sister, Dorothy, also suffered from the condition. However, Carole's niece, Sharon Ross Powell, stated that Carole did not have endometriosis but instead a congenital malformation that was a residual effect of the influenza epidemic.

Rosie Marcel is a British actress. She was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 20 along with the blood disorder hemophilia. She also battled other diseases before being diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2008. Rosie's character in the BBC1 series, "Holby City", Jac, was diagnosed with endometriosis so she got to play out her real life feelings for the disease, on-screen. After suffering a miscarriage (which occurred just after she had finished filming the scenes in which her character gave birth) and months of trying to conceive, Rosie found out she was pregnant 2 days before she was due to start IVF treatment. Her daughter, Beau, was born in 2015.

Toni Braxtonis an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actress and television personaility. There is little known about the singers battle with the disease though it is known she underwent surgery (in secret) for endometriosis in 2007. She has two sons: Denim Cole was born in 2001 and Diezel Ky was born in 2003.

Tomoko Hagiwara is a former Japanese Olympic swimmer. She had always had severe menstrual pain, but in the past few years, had also felt a harsh pain in her hips and stomach. She had endured it, thinking the pain was caused by age. During training, however, she found it extremely difficult to move her body. Hagiwara went to four hospitals, and often cried from the uncertainty. At the last hospital she went to, she decided to have surgery which took place in April 2011. She was back in the pool swimming by May that year.

Pamela Anderson is a Canadian model and actress. While filming Barb Wire, Pamela collapsed on set and was rushed to hospital. She had suffered a miscarriage, and had to undergo treatment for endometriosis. She has two sons, Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger.

Lena Dunham is an American actress, writer, producer and director. During laparoscopic surgery, she was diagnosed with stage 2 endometriosis on her abdominal walls, bladder, liver and appendix. Her symptoms returned within 6 months of the surgery and she has started monthly Lupron injections since. She spoke out about having endometriosis in her 2014 book "Not That Kind of Girl" and also wrote an essay on the subject for Lenny Letter in November 2015 called "The Sickest Girl". She also regularly posts about the disease on her Instagram.

Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, known by her stage name Halsey, is an American singer and songwriter. She opened up about her recent diagnosis of endometriosis on Twitterin January 2016, stating “ I was recently diagnosed after years of suffering and finding myself doubled over backstage in the middle of my sets, or fighting back tears on an airplane, or even being in so much pain I would vomit or faint. With doctors essentially telling me I was being a big baby about my period, or misdiagnosing PCOS, etc etc. Finding out that I have endo was the most bittersweet moment because it meant I wasn’t crazy! I wasn’t a ‘baby’! I had every right to be feeling like the world was caving in. But it was terrifying to find out".

Jaime Kingis an American actress and model. She has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as endometriosis. She suffered from 5 miscarriages and went through 5 rounds of IVF during the 7 years of trying to conceive her first son, James, who was born in 2013. Her second son, Leo Thames was born in 2015. In an interview with the Daily Mail in 2015, she stated "Lena Dunham was a big factor in my speaking out. As a dear friend who spoke out in her book about endometriosis, she helped give me the courage to ponder what kind of impact I wanted to make on this world. And I thought, 'Hey, you have a big platform to help other women and couples'. I know it's not a sexy topic, I know that it's extremely private and vulnerable, but at the same time I went through years of silent suffering because no one speaks about these things or the symptoms and effects of endometriosis. Jaime added that she hopes her decision to speak out about her fertility struggles will help her fans to see past the perceived perfection of her 'Hollywood life'. I will sacrifice anything to help educate and bring awareness to something so common, yet so oddly taboo. Because it shouldn't be. It's not about infertility per se - it's about the disease of PCOS and endometriosis and the prevention and care of that".

Jenny McCarthy is an American model, television host, comedian, actress, author, screen writer and anti-vaccine activist. Her son, Evan Joseph Asher, was born in 2002. There is little online regarding her having endometriosis other than a post on herTwitterin 2014 stating that she was in a lot of pain due to the disease.

Michelle Dewberry is a British reality television contestant and businesswoman. She fell pregnant in 2006 but shortly afterwards suffered a miscarriage. The pregnancy came as a big surprise as doctors had told her it was unlikely she would ever have children due to her endometriosis.

Millen Magese is a Tanzanian model and the former Miss Tanzania. She has struggled with endometriosis since she was 13 and was diagnosed in 2004, at the age of 25. Millen is adamant about the need to raise awareness for the disease, stating in a 2014 interview “I have one rule in life when it comes to health and making a change: when you can help someone, don’t allow shame and other people’s judgement to become an obstacle. It has been 10 years since my diagnosis, and it has taken a total of 12 surgeries, multiple attempts to reopen my blocked fallopian tubes, a non-functional ovary, miscarriages, and three IVF egg-retrieval procedures during one IVF cycle for me to speak out”. She created the Millen Magese Foundation which teamed up with the Endometriosis Africa Awareness Foundation and in 2015, Millen won a BET Global Good award for her humanitarian work with creating awareness and helping people who live with endometriosis. Millen underwent IVF and fell pregnant in 2016. Her son, Kairo Magese Michael, was born in 2017.

Stephanie March is an American actress. In 2014, after years of crippling pain, Stephanie went to hospital and begged the doctors to open her up. By the time they did, her appendix had ruptured. In her surgical records, it noted that they had found endometrial cells on her appendix but they didn't tell her this specifically and said she should see a specialist to confirm it but she found it difficult to get any doctors to believe she has the disease. In a 2014 article, Stephanie stated "People [in the U. S.] are just so uncomfortable with women's health. We're so afraid to talk about this as a health issue because we see it as a private, embarrassing problem". On the subject of infertility and how doctors take a sudden interest when this is a factor in an endometriosis case, Stephanie added "Until women's health gets the research, attention, education, and funding it deserves, we will not get better. Women's health cannot just be men's health plus a 'make-a-baby' add-on".

Trista Sutter is an American reality television personality. It took 2 years to conceive her son, Maxwell, born in 2007. Her daughter, Blakesley, was born in 2009. She announced on Twitter in 2013 that she has endometriosis.

Daisy Ridley is an British actress. She opened up about her battle with endometriosis on her Instagram in 2016, saying "At 15, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. One laparoscopy, many consultations and 8 years down the line, pain was back (more mild this time!) and my skin was THE WORST!". She has also been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries.

Tinopona Katsande is a Zimbabwean actor, radio and television personality. She was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 17 and underwent 7 surgical operations on her uterus and ovaries before the condition was identified in America. Speaking in a 2014 article, Tinopona stated "Instead, being the Shona girl I am, the 'elders' and doctors attributed the excruciating, demobilising monthly period pains to jeko (dymenorrhoea) and I was told I would eventually grow out of it; especially after having a baby. Unfortuntely, however, I have not grown out of it and medically, I am infertile. I say medically because I believe Musiki Wangu (my creator) will give me the gift of a child if and when he wants - endometriosis or not". After trying every traditional medication known for dysmenorrhoea, she then tried Lupron but had to stop it because of her bones. She now manages the pain with high dosage painkillers.

Kate Ford is an British actress. After Halsey opened up about her battle with endometriosis, she shared the news on Twittertelling her fans "I suffer from this it's not easy". In an article in The Mirror, she said "Endometriosis is a condition that has affected me for many years and every month is a struggle. As well as pain, there are also psychological symptoms. I'm working alongside a fabulous gynaecologist now to try to manage the condition. I'm pleased my tweet has raised awareness for a condition that is not fully understood". Her son, Otis James Roger Connerty, was born in 2008.

Mel Greig is an Australian radio presenter, reality television contestant and ambassador for Endometriosis Australia. She went through IVF treatment in 2015 and announced in 2016 that she had been dealing with endometriosis since she was 17. She said "It could have been major surgery but that would have potentially resulted in a hysterectomy, so they are doing minor surgery and draining my cysts". Explaining the cysts were on her right ovary, Mel said the minor surgery was her best option at the moment as she wasn't keen to get a hysterectomy. Her co-host enquired "So how desperate are you to avoid a hysterectomy at 34 years of age, because I would assume and correct me if I'm wrong, if you suffer from severe endometriosis like you do, hysterectomy would end it wouldn't it?". Mel responded "In terms of having children, yeah" before adding "hysterectomy doesn't end endometriosis".

Zoe Marshall is an Australian radio presenter, blogger and ambassador for Endometriosis Australia. She wrote an article in 2013 about the laparoscopic surgery she had recently undergone for the diagnosis and removal of endometriosis from behind her right ovary and on her left fallopian tube. Unfortunately, she received a lot of backlash from other sufferers, saying she was sugar coating the topic and so she remained tight lipped on the subject until 2015 when she wrote about it again on her blog. She is undergoing holistic treatment by seeing a kinesiologist and avoids sugar and wheat.

Emily Seebohm is an Australian swimmer and ambassador for Endometriosis Australia. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in June 2016 before she competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and revealed in December that she had undergone surgery for the disease.

Zara Holland is a British television personality and former Miss Great Britain. She was diagnosed in 2014 after having laparoscopic surgery where she said "They lasered off the endometriosis and fitted a Mirena coil to help stop the growth... Living with endometriosis is terrible. My first Mirena embedded itself in my womb, second time it rejected it after six months, now it's third time lucky! I have heavy bleeding, I've had to take time off work, I wouldn't eat, [I've had] painful sex and [am] so tired".

Emma Barnett is a British broadcaster and journalist. She was diagnosed in 2016 after what she describes as "20 years of gruelling pain, nausea and stomach issues during my period each month and, to make matters worse, I was only diagnosed by chance. One of my best friends happens to be an obstetrician and over dinner with me, as I sat there, hunched in agony, grimacing, she simply said "Emma, has anyone ever suggested to you, you might have endometriosis?". The irony was, that as a journalist, I had actually done a couple of stories about it, but I didn't really know what it meant. Well, now I do... The pain is unimaginable. And even for someone like me who has a relatively mild case and a high pain threshold, I'm talking bone-grindingly painful. Some days, when I come in to this studio, I genuinely struggle to put one foot in front of another and then even sit down for 3 hours in the same spot. For 7 days a month, because of endometriosis, I basically become an old lady, unable to run upstairs and carry on in my same, usual energetic fashion.".

Naomi Long is Northern Irish politician and leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since 2016. In 2017, she revealed that she had suffered from endometriosis for most of her adult life and "it's something that has become more and more difficult to manage over time". The pain had been so severe at times that she had to be admitted to hospital to deal with it and she said "I've tried a number of different options in terms of management, none of which have been very successful". She was due to have surgery in August 2017.

Olivia Hicks is an Australian journalist, television reporter and ambassador for Endometriosis Australia. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2015 at the age of 26. She said "I'd been having chronic pelvic pain for about 2 years, but previous to that I'd been experiencing lots of bladder issues and bowel problems for about 13 years".

Sarah Maree Cameron is an Australian radio presenter and ambassador for Endometriosis Australia. She was diagnosed with endometriosis is 2010. She said "Chocolate, ice cream and pain killers might help some women during that time of the month, but, due to my endometriosis, I feel like my whole world stops".

Ellie Angel is an Australian radio presenter and ambassador for Endometriosis Australia. She said "There is a strong family history of endometriosis in my family. My mother battled it so she made me aware of the disease when I started puberty. I suffered extreme pain for years to come with days off school and work huddled up in my bed crook as a dog. I was officially diagnosed with Stage IV endo in 2012 following a laparoscopy. Unfortunately, because it's so severe, the endo aggressively grew back". She had more surgery for it in May 2014.

Peta-Jane Madam is an Australian reporter and ambassador for Endometriosis Australia. She said "I think the key though with endometriosis is that it's debilitating, it stops you in your tracks, you're unable to work, you're unable to do sport and leisure activities, it stops you having normal relationships, it really effects a lot of parts of your life". She has had two laparoscopies.

Diana Falzone is an American news reporter. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2016, after a specialist found a mass in her uterus. In a 2017 article, she states that she underwent a 3.5 hour surgery to remove the endometriosis from her uterus, ovaries and bladder that was causing "excessive bleeding and paralysing pain". After tests found she had a low egg reserve, she completed three rounds of egg retrieval to save any remaining eggs.

Sophie Rhys-Jones is the Countess of Wessex. She is rumoured to have endometriosis which caused her to suffer an ectopic pregnancy in 2001, though there is nothing online to confirm this. She has two children, Louise, born in 2003, and James, born in 2007.

Sharon Stone is an American actress, film producer and former fashion model. She is rumoured to have endometriosis after having suffered repeated miscarriages though there is nothing online to confirm this. She has 3 adopted children; Roan Joseph, Laird Vonne and Quinn Kelly.

Martie McGuire is an American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and a founding member of the female country band, Dixie Chicks. She is rumoured to have endometriosis though there is nothing online to confirm this. She did, however, suffer from a collapsed fallopian tube and spent 3 years trying to conceive before trying IVF. Martie has three children: twins Eva and Kathleen born in 2004, and Harper, born in 2008 (all conceived through IVF).

Celine Dion is a Canadian singer. She is rumoured to have endometriosis though there is nothing online to confirm this. However, in 2000, Celine underwent two small operations to improve her chances of conceiving, after deciding to use IVF treatment because of years of failed attempts to conceive. Her first son, Rene Charles, was born in 2001. After her 6th round of IVF treatment, Celine gave birth to fraternal twins, Eddy and Nelson in 2010.

Nicole Kidman is an Australian actress, singer and film producer. She is rumoured to have endometriosis though there is nothing online to confirm this. She has two adopted children: Isabella, born in 1992, and Connor, born in 1995, from her first marriage. She also suffered an ectopic pregnancy during this time. She has two daughters from her second marriage. Nicole gave birth to Sunday in 2008 and Faith was born in 2010 through a surrogate.

Khloe Kardashian is an American socialite, television personality, business woman, fashion designer, author, actress and presenter. She is rumoured to have endometriosis but there is nothing online to confirm this. She has struggled for several years to try to conceive and is reportedly trying IVF now.

Queen Noor of Jordan is the American widow of King Hussein of Jordan and was queen consort between their marriage in 1978 and his death in 1999. She has 4 children: Prince Hamzah, born in 1980, Prince Hashim, born in 1981, Princess Iman, born in 1983 and Princess Raiyah, born in 1986. She is rumoured to have endometriosis though there is nothing online to confirm this.

Lacey Schwimmer is an American competitive ballroom dancer and singer. She was starring in Dancing with the Stars in 2008, alongside Julianne Hough, when, because of Julianne's diagnosis, she went for a check up. She was diagnosed with endometriosis but doctors decided at that point that surgery was not necessary so therefore it hasn't been confirmed. Lacey is on medication to treat the disease.

Nicole Bobek is a retired, American figure skater. The Endometriosis Research Center said that they worked with Nicole's family during the time of her diagnostic process and at that time she didn't have endometriosis. However, there are articles online that state she had to withdraw from competitions due to it, whereas other articles merely state this was due to 'internal infections' and ill health.

Brenda Strong is an American actress, certified yoga instructor and spokesperson for the American Fertility Association. She is the creator of Strong Yoga4Women which runs yoga programmes for fertility, pregnancy and menopause. She has one child, Zakery Henri. She tried for 4 years to conceive a second child and then suffered a miscarriage. She is rumoured to have endometriosis though there is little online regarding this. In an article published in 2011, she mentions "I remember as a young girl my mother suffering with intense pain brought on by endometriosis, which eventually concluded in a hysterectomy".

Daisy Fuentes is a Cuban born American television host and model. In 2001, Daisy featured in a televised public service announcement campaign to raise awareness of endometriosis. Talking about the campaign, she stated "Promoting women's health issues is a top priority for me. Endometriosis is a painful and disruptive disease yet it's relatively unknown. I hope to help women and girls take control of their own health and fight this disease with knowledge". It is unclear if Daisy actually has endometriosis herself.

Do you know anyone else that should be on this list?... Let me know if you do!

N.B. Please feel free to share any of the information above, but please credit EMLWY when doing so.

Some very famous women here suffering from this debilatating condition, i wish some would step forward and really help highlight the symptoms sufferers have to go through on a daily basis and make people more aware of Endomitriosis, especialy in the uk where even countless GPs know very little about the condition, the ignorance and lack of knowledge is sometimes one of the worst contributing factors of it c

There are a lot of very influential women on this list. I do hope they take time to help spread awareness, whether it be about getting tested or what treatment options are available, so women can get the help they need.

I'm 19 and I've just been diagnosed with endometriosis, I've been feeling really down and have had anxiety since the diagnosis, and though I am not currently trying for a baby, I've been really sad that I may be difficult for me in the future.. There are some really inspirational women on here and I this site has made this difficult discovery a little easier for me X

So happy to see the advancement in awareness on endometriosis! All of the above named celebrities that have suffered from this disease are strong, beautiful, influential women; it's great to have examples of how such beautiful women can fight a not so pretty disease. We fully support the awareness of this disease and are pleased to see the talks spread on the issue. It's time to advocate awareness, education and support of something that has such little light shed on it. Whether you purchase a shirt to help spread awareness and spark conversation or not, we're happy to see this community grow and spread the word. Love & Positivity to all our EndoSisters! - The Nomoendo Foundation www.nomoendo.org

I have been struggling with this disease since 1978. I am 52years old just dad surgery number 9 and still in pain. I remember a few years back Daisy Fuentes was supposed to be the main spokesperson for the endo assn. She backed out afraid it would jeopardize her career. Ladies you have the power of the media and the funds to make a difference. Stop thinking about yourselves and your images. How about the young girls the next generations. It is hereditary and I pray for your daughters that it isn't passed on. Get out there and make a difference. There are millions of women and young girls suffering. I wished many of times in my life I had the power of the media and money to do something. I have done the best I can to reach out and shout out awareness. Support groups endo walks lectures speeches crisis calls etc. LADIES DO SOMETHING NOW!!!!!!

Hi,I don't have much time to write, but what helped me A LOT with the endo symptoms is a very healthy diet. Eating organic, avoid animal fats (means also milk fats) and excluding processed foods and sugars (see Mediteranean diet), and basing all meals on fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, legumes... even some celebrity ladies stated above used a healthy diet as a healing plan. It is much easier than one would think!

Hello. I am a single women age 46 , yet to find the right partner. I have lived on my own for more than 25 years , love children and people and have an interest in art and love the work of Tracey Emin . I have Recto Vaginal endometriosis , I don't meet many people with this type of endometriosis which really is classed , in terms of surgery , (that not to say other forms of endo is not painful or debilitating ) you can end up and sadly some women do , thankfully I do not have a stoma . I was born with endometriosis and had my symptoms , that I recall, but prob been before that at age nine with epilepsy and placed on sodium valproate as a child im still using the drug today age 46 ..so al my life but I had epilepsy from age 9 to 20 so I was diagnosed at my first operation at age 42 nearly , here is some hope for all the women . At age 38 if you can imagine the endometriosis had built up for 42 years on my bowel I was in terrible pain collapsing reg and limping down the right leg , I had a life threatening condition of PID the endo became infected and my bowel was all inflamed and ulcerated , the ulcers came off the bowel and down the vaginal wall all the nerves ..my periods that were very reg all my life 28 days nearly stopped or stopped I was given 8 weeks PID meds not nice meds to take in order to save it ..it did work and they came back to every 23 days even more reg than before can you believe ..which they have remained at as I type at this age of 46 , I even tried 7 months of mirena iud and had contractions for 7 month , the mirena was put in at the bowel surgery called total excision of endometriosis so it was delicate surgery and fitting that item was really quite difficult for me me coping , I later went on to try prostap injection for 7 months age 45 as I have recto vaginal and uterine fibroids . Now I just want to give you all hope you do know that removing a uterus for recto vaginal person it wont make any difference , t will carry on growing on the bowel as if you have a uterus ..so to summery I have two ovaires and a uterus . I have just been in hospital went on my 46 th birthday can you belive with 10 months of kidney stones on top of recto vaginal ..I still have periods every 23 days and ovulate for those women with a uterus and even if you have had ovary removed you can still have children ..there is hope ..what happened to me should not of happened I was single or not with anyone to have child so they didn't find it till at 42 but they did every test including CT at 38 and couldn't see it till I paid for op to have a look and paid for another op for excision , in all costing prob more than 8 thousand for a women that wasn't working parents had to help ..but still I still have recto but I can work at many things people don't thing I could do and am able to have intimate relationship WITHOUT PAIN AND HAVE A GOOD HIGH SEX DRIVE .. its important for women to look at the positive side , however as you can imagine , I do get bullied for my age how am in in body shape and for having periods at 46 that's doing well , nobody will ever say that , they say there is no reason why I carnt go till after the menopause with uterus as it works but just gave me this terrible burdon which I do suffer and have to have treatment for ..there is hope as ive just given , many of these women if not all are fertile women with a horrible side effect that sometimes every drug out there cannot fix it , even as young child I had endo in my brain that's only just come to light nobody talks about endometriosis related epilepsy before a period or at that time ..my art college place had to be given up and my education suffered .. if you check out Emin International You can buy signed art in poster form for as little as 30.00 and that's wonderful be proud of Tracey and what shes done for women and for Hospices donating her art to Pilgrims Hospice in Kent where my brother is the Chaplain of the hospice Revd Fr Stewart .my brother has seen his sister suffer most of her life .

Very sadly , its become apparent to me , since writing my experience ( I last saw my surgeon for a general appointment at the endometriosis centre, as you expect they have things connected to that such as pain management clinics ect , which in honesty I have never attended so far but I have been "in this issue " if that is the way I could describe my life since I was 38 ..when I was hospitalized ..I was very sick indeed without correct meds to deal with issue weeks of two kinds of tablets of two week courses three times day for 8 weeks I may of died women do of PID you can pass away very quickly , I said PID that's the hospital words the "general term we use .." I was actually too ill to be operated on then and it was long time after till had to pay as the problem was heading the same way of another PID ..how would you term very ulcerated bowel I don't know and internal bleeding ..and infection on top of that of all the tubes ..the rest of me basically ill ..Sadly it is my belief since typing my story I have been bullied to the point that I have considered suicide ..and its affected my family relationship with certain member of my family ( im not married its not a partner ) its broken my heart that 46 year of love and affection for a person has been affected by things ive said here ...it was NOT a sexually transmitted disease and nor could it ever be ..you cannot catch it im still very sad ive been isolated in trying to find someone else who had recto vaginal but I am aware from speaking to my surgeon of course he knows others that hes opertated on with this and informed me its difficult for partner or husnds of women who have been left with a *stoma * or colostomy bag ..as I said I m I consider lucky one ..( even to be alive ) I have a choice to remove my story but why should I I cared about women suffering I know how it is for them , nobody knows more than me ive done all I can in life to help or offer to help even offering body parts would you like my ovaries or this and that or do what you want or free to operate I often feel like just body nothing more to be experimented on ...I ask you please don't bully people think about what you say and do it can leave people like me feeling no reason to go on ..that's a shame ..I feel I have a lot to offer the world and I don't have any ignorant or uncaring ways ...it seems I was misunderstood I don't feel anyone ever will ..bow can I wipe out my 46 years I ask you how ??? I paid the price in many ways and as I said being alone was one of them ..but id hoped not forever the only person I had in life I think I have lost forever ..im sorry for that endometriosis was not my fault and nor is it yours I have been bullied ....

The Lady you have posted as Nike Oshinowo is not Nike. Please open the link below to see her.Great writeup on Endometriosis. Alot of women donot know or have any idea of the symptoms here in Nigeria and i am sure in Africa as a whole.It is time to shed more light and my eyes have been open to it.Thanks.

It really feels bad to hear that all these female celebrity are suffering from such a critical disease. I didn’t know that my favorite American model Karen Duffy also has this disease. I am feeling very sad for her.

Facing op number 3 in 3 years...do you have to do this yearly!?! So tired of it. I eat healthy, exercise and try to live a normal life ...nothing seems to help. Given up on the thought of children. One miscarriage and 7 years of coming to terms with this battle. Its comforting to read you're not alone and others understand.

I had debilitating periods for 10 years after turning 40 (fortunately had two children prior), one laparoscopy and ablation after diagnosis of endo and adenomyosis, and recently had to have a hysterectomy as it got so bad. Significantly disrupted my life having to cancel everything for 2-3 days each month. Amazing to see how many women suffer from it, and yet where is the research? I suspect soy was a contributor for me, perhaps stress as well - women lead such stressful lives trying to juggle work, family etc. This really needs to be researched. Thanks for helping to raise awareness.

Hello

I'm Shireen, girlfriend to Daniel and mama to our wonderful little IVF boy, Hunter Ace. Thank you for visiting EMLWY - a blog all about my life with endometriosis, the curveballs of mental health, infertility and further diagnoses of fibromyalgia, ischaemic colitis and osteopenia, and platform for sharing other womens stories and information on the disease. I hope you find my words of some support - you are not alone in this. ♡